The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1887-10-01
A Japanese Execution.

bandagcd with white paper. the only
act of mercy saw vouchsafed that
morning. Finally they were ranged in
line, the two crlpples huddlcd on the
ground. their poor heads rs they droop-
ed from shoulder to shoulder being
roughly buiretcd to a proper angle by
the policemen in charge. This accom-
plished amid silence so absolute that
we could almost hear our hearts beat,
the great man on the camp-stool rose,
and unfolding a large document read
in loud voice what we supposed to be
description of the crimes tor which
the poor fellows were to suffer and tho
process of condemnation and sentence.
This was very long business, and be-
fore it had nearly finished the native
spectators were laughing and joking
upon the appearance Of the doomed
men, with the callousness to human
suffering which so much blackens the
otherwise amiable, and pleasing char
actcr of the Japanese people. At last
it was finished. As there were but
five holes for seven prisoners, two
would be obliged to remain in blind
agony while their companions were
being dispatched. Five men were ac-
eordingly thrust forward with the
slaves and fists : of the police
each man was made to squat
on mound, his clothes-if filthy, tat
tered rags could be clothes-stripped
from his shoulders, his hands tied be-
hind his back. and his head pushed for
ward over the hole. Our feelings at
this awful moment can better be mag
med than described. but | think we
felt quite rs much pity for tho two poor
wretches left alone to listen to what
was going on without that artificial aid
to fortitude which the sight of crowd
sometimes gives, as for their compan-
ions on their death seats. Undoubted-
" execution by the trenchant Japanese
sword is as merc.f death as can be
desired; but the oriental nature, as If TO
compensate for this erring on the side
of mercy, counterbalances it by an un-
due prolongation Of the preparations
for death, which is worse than hun
bred deaths. So in this case. AS the
poor fellows knelt over their holes the
executloner slowly and deliberately
took off his coat and barred his arms
Then he took from its silk casing the
fatal sword, examined it fondly and
lingeringly from the Yasuri me, or
filings on the hilt to keep the grasp
from slipping, along the Ririmon, or
groove in the blade. to the point held
it over pail while coolie trickled
water down it, and with great
deal of settling of his feet was
ready. l felt sick and giddy but l
kept my eyes fixed on the scene. AT
sign from the official on the camp-stool,
the executioner raised his sword slight
ly, hardly half dozen inches, and al
most before l could realize it the mans
head was hanging over the hole by a
single ligament, and the blood was
gushing forth in torrents. / then saw
why the executioner had not COM
petely severed the head; and the won
derful skill of the Japanese swordsmcn,
using as they do the most perfect
weapons in the world, can be imagined
in so arranging the force of the blow
that absolute dccapitaton does not
take place. He tore the head off and
held it toward the four sides Of the
square,; then he gave it TO coolie,
who roughly plaslered the severed por-
ton with clay and stuck it on kind of
elevated shelf In the meanwhile two
coolies were humping on the back of
the PROSTATE body to hasten the rush
of blood, after which one Of coarse
mats was thrown over II and 1t was
laid aside. had seen enough, and l
turned my head away as the execu-
toner, after wiping his blade with
paper. approached the second poor
wretch. who was shouting out some
thing at the top of his voice. whether a
confession or dcnunciation OF in
Justice I was not scholar enough TO
understand. The Gentleman's Mag
azi,le. D go org